Summer Memory Books for Kids {A NeatDesk Scanner Giveaway}

Have you ever wondered how to make summer memory books for kids? As a non-crafty mom, I’m here to tell you that it’s not as hard as you might think! I’m also here to warn you not to wait until the end of summer to start thinking about summer memory books for kids.

In fact, the beginning of summer is the perfect time to not only think about crafting a summer memory book for your kids, but also to take the time to create a memory book from your favorite kids’ school work from the past 10 months. Take it from me, if you don’t take time to stop and do it now, it will pile up in bins and boxes until one day you get so sick of it that you simply toss it in the garage… undoubtedly clearing the clutter, but losing precious memories in the process.

So here are just a few simple tips to not only keep from getting buried under the memories, but to make a keepsake that you and your kids will treasure for years to come.

Making Summer Memory Books for Kids

1. Have a system for keeping track of school projects and papers

Throughout the school year, have a designated bin, file folder or box that your kids put all their schoolwork in that they bring home. For our house, they put it in a folder hanging on the side of my kitchen desk as soon as they took it out of their folders. At the end of every week, I sorted through all those papers and only kept what I thought was extra special or would show progress throughout the year (like handwriting sheets for the little ones). I kept those in a plastic tub and then at the end of the year I make one final pass through to see if there are any I could do without. The ‘keepers’ then go into a 3 ring binder for that year with some pictures and other mementos from that school year that wouldn’t be able to fit in a typical photo album.

2. Scan your kids’ most memorable papers and art projects

If you don’t want to save the originals, scan their artwork and papers as soon as they bring them home. Not only will this drastically reduce the clutter and the amount of keepsake space you have to keep up with throughout your children’s school years, but it will give you a backup in case, God forbid, anything should happen to these papers (fire, natural disaster, theft, etc). My new-found obsession is the NeatDesk Scanner. I got hooked on the NeatReceipt last year, but the NeatDesk easily scans papers, photos, receipts, business cards and more. I’m able to scan large batches of papers all at once and it’s revolutionized how I’ve archived my kids’ artwork in particular. Then I can…

3. Use photos and scanned artwork to create an online photo book and memory album

If you’re looking for the best all-in-one solution, why not put all the best memories from the year (pictures, scanned report cards, notes from friends, etc) into an online photo book. You then have extra back up when you create the book online on sites like Shutterfly, plus with all the great sales you can find with the online photo sites, you can create them very inexpensively…even to the point where you get two free when you buy 1 so you can share them with grandparents too!

To help you get started making great summer memory books for kids or even memory books for other special people in your life, I have the privilege of giving away a NeatDesk Scanner to one of you!

Disclosure: NeatDesk was kind enough to provide a NeatDesk (refurbished) for me to try as well as one to give away after I fell in love with the NeatReceipt machine. If you don’t want to wait to try to win one, you can purchase a NeatDesk here (affiliate link).